THE SKY BLUES go into tonight’s match with Dunfermline still short of bodies as illness and injury continues to hamper the club’s preparations for the new season.

City flew up to Scotland yesterday and trained at Hibs’ new £4 million training facility on the outskirts of Edinburgh, but there was no sign of David Bell who was left at home suffering suspected swine flu, while Elliott Ward, Marcus Hall and Jermaine Grandison were unable to train.

“Belly has been ill and he will probably be back with us in three or four days with a bit of luck,” revealed manager Chris Coleman.

“I think it is swine flu actually, I am not too sure, but he’s okay. We have had to obviously separate him from the players because we don’t want the flu going through the group of players like wildfire, so we kept him at home over the weekend but he will hopefully be all right in the next three to four days.

“That’s been the story of the pre-season. We have had illness and injuries and yet we still haven’t been beaten yet, and that’s a credit to the players.”

He added: “Jermaine, Elliott and Marcus didn’t train yesterday. Elliott has still got a problem with his knee while Jermaine has got a little problem with his ankle from Saturday so we will see how he is.

“James McPake should be okay. He had a bit of a reaction to his groin because he has not played a lot of football in the last five months, so the quicker he gets back to back 90 minutes the better.

“But the disappointing one is Elliott because we wanted to play him again tonight but we can’t do that now.

“Marcus has got a little problem at the back of his knee but he should be all right for Sunday’s testimonial and we probably won’t risk him tonight.”

As for what Coleman hopes to get out of the trip north of the border, he said: “It is nice to get the lads away.

"We had quite a few trips last year so I just wanted to get the lads together for four or five days away from Ryton. It is a chance to do a bid of bonding as well.”

And in terms of tonight’s match at the Scottish First Division outfit, he added: “We are looking for a bit more quality from the boys as the fitness kicks in but to be fair to the lads there has been a lot of chopping and changing, as most teams do in the pre-season and it is hard for players to come on and settle into the game.

“So it has been a bit bitty in terms of the quality but I have been really happy with the group who have shown a good will to win. Pre-season friendlies are always hard to predict but our lads have done really well and got a few decent results out of it.

“Dunfermline will be similar to what we are used to in the Championship. What we have tried to do is step it up every game we have played in terms of the quality of the opposition.

"It will no doubt be a tough game tonight but if the lads keep showing what they have been in terms of their grittiness within their play then it should be a good game.

“And then we have got Everton on Sunday and that’s a step up again, so we have got two quality games before we face Ipswich in the first game of the season.”